| Lyna Mohamad |
HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam had made a call for the mukim and village councils to be the thinker, planner and engine that drive the community to develop themselves, at the Majlis Anugerah Kampong Cemerlang Peringkat Kebangsaan 2009 (2009’s Successful Village National Level Awards Ceremony).
In an effort to answer the call, the members of Mukim Berakas ‘A’ Council (MPM Berakas ‘A’) recently made visits to villages under its jurisdiction. It was also a follow-up to the resolution of the Mukim and Village Council, Assembly 2007.
The visiting council members – comprising the village heads of Mukim Berakas ‘A’ and their spouses, as well as other representatives from the Brunei-Muara District – were led by the Penghulu of Mukim Berakas ‘A’, Haji A Ahmad bin Haji Husin.
In a brief interview, the penghulu noted that the visit, which has been conducted several times before, served to oversee the mukim’s developments.
Any issues brought up during these visits will be brought to the relevant parties. The visits also serve to strengthen ties between the village heads and council members.
In their most recent visit, the group’s first stop was the residence of STKRJ Lambak Kiri Village Head, Haji Mohd Zain bin Abdul Karim, and surrounding areas, before proceeding to Kampong Lambak ‘B’, Kampong Lambak ‘A’, Kampong Pancha Delima and Kampong Jaya Setia.
Members of Mukim Berakas ‘A’ Council in a group photo during one of their visits. – PHOTOS: SYAHMI HASSAN
One of the abandoned houses, and solutions on such matters are currently being worked out.
The Deputy Chairman of MPM Berakas ‘A’, Pengiran Haji Mohd Salleh bin Pengiran Haji Kamaluddin, noted that through such visits, resolutions has been implemented.
These include the provision of financial assistance from the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) to 200 recipients and the ability to export its ‘One Village, One Product’ abroad with the assistance of and collaboration with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.
They are also planning to carry out the ‘Red Garoupa Aquaculture Project’ where, according to Taiwan research specialists, a total of 100 tonnes of red garoupa can be produced annually, with an estimated export value of US$2.5 million and which can bring an estimated US$1.5 million annually to the Brunei Darussalam Village and Mukim Coperative (KOKAMI).
As for the environment, there are several areas affected by waste/garbage issues, which need to be highlighted to the relevant agency, as well as abandoned stalls or houses and overgrowth of grasses. Solutions on such matters are currently being worked out.
The group also visited the recently established Police Post in Kampong Terunjing where they were told that since its establishment, the crime rate has gone down, and that the post is very much useful for the safety and comfort of villagers.
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